North Carolina is seemingly not affected by the financial crisis in America, if they were they wouldn’t have just given a five-year, $42.5 million extension to Jake Delhomme today. The same Jake Delhomme who is 34 years old and threw 5 interceptions and lost 1 fumble in their last playoff game a few months ago. I know the Panthers are saying they did this to clear cap space but I can’t help but think they’re wasting a ton of money. Jake is guaranteed $20 million dollars in this deal and is undoubtedly on the downside of his career.

I seriously doubt Delhomme would have gotten a rich contract like this if the Panthers let his deal expire and he decided to test the waters with another team. Unless Jake turns in a huge season this year or next, I’m pretty sure Carolina is going to cut him before he gets into the later years of this deal, but they still have to eat that $20 million at the end of the day.

So Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith will be suspended for the first two games of the 2008 season for going “oops upside the head” on team mate Ken Lucas. According to Pro Football Talk, there are “rumblings” that Panthers management have grown tired of Smith.

He’s one of the most talented wide receivers in all of football, but it’s very clear that the guy has serious anger management issues. As a GM, would you be willing to overlook Smith beating the snot out of one of your other players every year or so?

Winning and production means everything in the NFL (unless its Terrell Owens, he’s the anti-christ ya know!). The Dallas Cowboys used to overlook the fact that Charles Haley was a manic depressive crazy who masturbated in team meetings because they knew he was a damned good player.